Dear Editor,
The letter by Derrick Cummings: `Naked abuse of power on Demerara Harbour Bridge’ S.N Sept. 26th, 2016 reminded me of an experience I had some years ago where the arrogance of authority was displayed in its true form and colour, only that this one I’m about to tell is in reverse of that told by Derrick Cummings, where instead of a Senior Police Officer bullying his way, it was a decent traffic cop on the receiving end of raw arrogance by a Senior Government Official.
I’ll say that those things will never stop, for always there will be within our midst people who possess obnoxious qualities. I recall some years ago travelling on a big-bus (Tata) from Linden to Georgetown when it broke down- as had become a common occurrence. It was Saturday morning, those who were lucky caught other transportation and I was lucky to be picked up by two people in a wagon-a man and a woman-I was most thankful.
I sat alone in the back at ease and from their conversation I gathered they were senior government officials. About five minutes into our journey we reached the Linden/Soesdyke Junction where a traffic cop was standing, as we turned he beckoned to the driver to stop. Now this wagon wasn’t brand new and did appear to have some defects which the traffic-cop observed as he was examining the vehicle, slowing circling it and shaking his head in obvious disapproval that much is/was amiss. Then the driver said to the cop very crudely: “hurry up ah gat ah appointment”, to which the cop was taken aback and retorted “what!” and the man repeated more forcefully and rudely this time “ah seh ah gah fuh guh out”.
Now dear reader, a word about this policeman: I had seen cops like him before time and time again, from the way he was attired you instantly recognized that he was no slouch and one who took pride in his work, he was neatly dressed, his uniform well pressed and his long white sleeves immaculate as was his shirt, as was the hat on his head, the cutting seam on his pants down to his gleaming black shoes. Believe me he was spic and span, and yes, this traffic cop was on a roll, the man was rude and disrespectful but he kept his calm and remained well-mannered as he said to the man very politely, “let me see your driver’s licence sir:”, and the man replied “ah fuget it home”, to which the officer chuckled, as I imagined in his head it was a foregone conclusion that this rude fellow must be taught a lesson today.
I sat there hoping for this thing to be quickly over and done.
Then the cop requested of him some form of identification to which he quickly responded by producing a small folder/card holder. The officer took it and regarded it thoroughly. I watched his countenance change from plump self-confidence, assurance and some leverage of authority as accorded him by duty, to one of dejection, frustration, annoyance and emptiness as he folded the folder shaking his head yet again and returned it to the man who snatched it from him with disdain, while saying to himself “just imagine a senior government officer, senior government officer”. I am writing this now after so many years and I can still feel the hurt.
For whatever reason known only to him, he peeped into the wagon and uttered something and the woman sitting inside already primed up from all that she saw, propped herself up some more and snapped in a rather belligerent manner: “Are you speaking to me?” “Oh no ma’am not you sorry!” Realizing that he got the message that she was not one to mess with, she cleared her throat and said in a rather haughty tone “oh it couldn’t possibly be” emphasizing on couldn’t.
Every letter of the word was distinct. I heard the traffic cop keep grumbling “senior government officials” as I observed him. He was stripped bare of whatever he thought of himself, at least for that moment, the wind under his wings was gone so too was the spring in his steps. That encounter messed him up greatly as it did to me.
Then when this government official drove off he turned to the woman who seemed to be his secretary and undoubtedly his mistress, smiled and said “he should ah mek heself stupid and see wha would ah happen, Monday morning he would ah been looking fuh a job”. She smiled back in naughty agreement. I was sitting there all along, so thankful for the ride yet oblivious and invisible to them. In any event it didn’t matter to them what the hell I thought, they were that daring. They chatted about it for a short while as we went along and I could have seen the content on their faces, the satisfaction that this position they were placed in offered them clout and influence to lord it over others, like that upright young professional Traffic Cop they had just trampled upon. That is what I call brazen, unbridled arrogance – they live amongst us.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
